1966 saw Albert Henshall return to the club as chairman and England won the World Cup, two of Alf Ramsey's squad would sign for Stoke within the next twelve months.[1] In the summer of 1966 Waddington secured the services of former Newcastle United winger George Eastham from Arsenal for £35,000.[1] The other was goalkeeper Gordon Banks who was snapped up for a bargain £52,000 from Leicester City in April 1967. Matt Gillies, the Leicester manager was coming under considerable pressure to play his young reserve Peter Shilton and decided to sell the 29 year old Banks to Stoke. It is widely considered that this was a 'steal' as Banks carried on to play for England for another five years.[1] Banks left English football in 1972 and ironically Stoke signed Shilton as his replacement.[1]